Cholesteric spherical reflectors as innovative optical elements with vast application potential

Jan P. F. Lagerwall

doi:10.1117/12.3003112

13 March 2024 Cholesteric spherical reflectors as innovative optical elements with vast application potential

Jan P. F. Lagerwall

Proceedings Volume 12907, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies XIX; 1290702 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003112
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2024, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Cholesteric Spherical Reflectors (CSRs) are omnidirectional selective retroreflectors enabled by the ability of cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) to self-assemble with helicoidally modulated long-range orientational order, turning them into a liquid chiral photonic crystal with one-dimensional periodicity. The liquid state allows us to easily mold the CLC into spherical units, with stabilizers in the surrounding liquid phases ensuring the appropriate boundary conditions. By varying the composition of the CLC we can continuously tune the wavelength band of retroreflection across the visible spectrum and into the ultraviolet (UV) as well as infrared (IR) regimes, choose whether the CRSs reflect right- or left-handed circular polarization, and we can make them polymerizable, such that the CSRs are easily turned into solids after annealing, allowing easy manipulation and incorporation into diverse matrices. This opens for numerous innovative applications, from anti-counterfeiting and supply chain track-and-trace solutions, via human-invisible signage optimized for robots and AR device wayfinding, to the pixelation of structural color for generating non-spectral colors without absorption or indiscriminate scattering, and even enhanced-sensitivity disease testing. In my talk, I will briefly introduce the concept of CSRs and highlight their salient features, and then I will focus on our on-going efforts to solve important societally and industrially relevant problems by taking advantage of the opportunities offered by CSRs.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Jan P. F. Lagerwall "Cholesteric spherical reflectors as innovative optical elements with vast application potential", Proc. SPIE 12907, Emerging Liquid Crystal Technologies XIX, 1290702 (13 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3003112

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available